Hello there! As you might have gathered, today (and across upcoming Fridays) things are going to be a little bit different. How, you might ask? Well, with Axtara 2 drawing ever close to flying free into the world, I thought it would be nice if those of you who are Axtara fans could have a little tidbit of something to tide you over in the meantime.

No, it’s not a preview of Axtara 2 (that will comer later), but it’s close. For those who read Axtara – Banking and Finance, you might recall mention of Axtara’s older sibling, Ryax, who was apprenticed to be a wizard. And if you ever wondered what happened with that, well … Today (and each coming Friday) is your lucky day. Because this is Ryax’s story. Until now a Patreon Supporter Exclusive, Ryax’s solo outing is now coming to the site.

And who knows. Maybe you’ll see him in Axtara 2. For now, kick back, and enjoy part one of A Trial For a Dragon. In four parts, one part each week.

---

A Trial for a Dragon – Part One

It’s not hard to see why Rietillia considers itself the “crown jewel” of the kingdoms, Ryax thought, his wings extended in a lazy glide. It really is as beautiful as it claims to be. Beneath him stretched endless rolling hills, rising and falling over one another in gentle green and brown waves. Each was dotted with workers, tending to the carefully cultivated crops that were the kingdom’s livelihood.

It’s like looking at a painting. The undulating rows of green gave way to a sinuous stone road, and he beat his wings slightly as the ground neared. A faint breeze made itself known, stirring up circling drifts of warm, spice-scented air tinged with reddish dust. Nearby travelers, also heading to and from the capital, looked over and then up in surprise as he braced himself for impact.

A final beat of his wings with a quick twitch of his tail for balance adjustment, and his paws touched down atop the warm stone in a smooth, easy landing. From here, he would walk to Avnivaria. It would be a change of pace from the fairly lazy glides he’d been able to use for most of the morning, but it was better than flying over a busy capital looking for a clear landing space that wouldn’t have issues with a dragon dropping down in the middle of it.

He gave the closest travelers to him a friendly nod, one of them sneezing at the dust his landing had churned up but still offering a friendly roll of the head in return before continuing on their way.

Well, that’s a good sign. The Bad Days were over half a century gone, but civilization had a long memory. The fact that no one had run away screaming when he’d come in for a landing was certainly a mark in the city’s favor.

Then again, it’s a capital, the “crown jewel of the kingdoms.” One would hope they’d be used to dragons. Blessed with rich, fertile soil and a mild climate, Rietillia had made its fortunes through vast crops of spices, wines, and fruit orchards, all of which were shipped across the kingdoms and even across the Scented Ocean. The resplendent wealth received for its goods had given rise to the saying that even the poorest farmhand in Rietillia was wealthier than a lesser noble in one of the other kingdoms.

From what I’ve seen so far I cannot disagree, Ryax thought as he made his way down the winding road. The travelers around him, though mostly on foot and heading for one of the side entrances to the capital as he was, were still well-dressed and healthy looking. One wore a royal coat that wouldn’t have been out of place on a duke elsewhere, but the callused nature of his hands and the wooden crate he held between them certainly would have.

No wonder uncle opened his bank in Delaria. Their borders flush with Rietillia, Delaria’s position as a central trade hub was only enhanced by such close proximity to wealthy spice magnates. Rietillian nobles could easily wend between the rolling hills by wagon, or ship their wares up the slow, lazy Tavinari river off somewhere to his right, hidden behind the hills. He’d followed its winding blue ribbon for hundreds of miles since leaving Delaria the day before, constantly amazed by the volume of trade barges making their way up and down its length.

And then there’s that railway being laid … He took another deep breath, looking up and relishing the mélange of scents mixing in the air. A clear blue sky with only a few wisps of cloud and a faint, gentle breeze. Beneath him the stone road began to climb upwards, slowly winding its way around the side of a hill. A good sign of things to come, I hope. As tantalizing as the spices were in his nostrils—almost enough to make his stomach growl after such a long flight—neither they nor the monetary riches were why he’d come to the Rietillian capital.

He’d come in pursuit of an entirely different sort of riches: Knowledge. Avnivaria was home to more than just spice merchants and a thousand different varieties of wine. It was also home to another organization, the only of its kind in the kingdoms.

The Council of Wizards. The highest, most respected, and only official organization of magic users across the entirety of the kingdoms. Headed by a council of fifteen senior members, each experienced and well-learned in the ways of magic.

Additionally, they were the final adjudicators of whether any apprentice such as Ryax would be able to truly lay claim to the title of “wizard.”

Once per year the council opened its doors to apprentices who wished to earn the title. They would meet one by one with those who believed they were ready, read their letters of recommendation from a tutor or teacher, and test them on their knowledge of magic. Some would be turned away, but a select few—a prepared few—would be accepted by the greatest known gathering of magical knowledge and receive the title of wizard.

And this year, I will be among them. It was time. Fifteen years of careful study under a multitude of wizards across the kingdoms, summing preparation, research, and studied practice. Theory and lore from Frederico Adernat of Sicaria, with a small bit of practical shaping. Elvoto taught me how to shape that theory and practice into spells. Sel Utari showed me how to look past the theory, past the basics … Into the deeper lore and energies of magic itself that coursed through the world, and how to put that knowledge into practice. And Uxul Azul, the different branches of study. Taking what he had already known and opening his view even further, showing how spells could be approached from multiple sides and directions.

He’d even spent the last year apprenticed to Ava Hendle, a potioneer and alchemist of some renown, who had been delighted to see that a prospective wizard was interested in learning ways that magic interacted with the world beyond traditional spellshaping or casting.

All of them had, when asked, given him letters of recommendation to the council. Each of them had been impressed with his dedication to the craft. All, in one way or another, had urged him to fly to Avnivaria and put his name forward during the yearly judging.

To become a wizard. And not just any wizard, either. Wizards aplenty were human, but a dragon? There had never been one before. Which wasn’t too surprising. A hundred years back dragons had lived mostly outside civilization, kidnapping nobles for gold or squabbling among themselves.

Then gunpowder had entered the equation, and suddenly any lone human with a musket could deliver a scale-shattering blow. Dragons had been forced to make a truce, becoming part of society rather than preying on it.

Now father is a courier, uncle owns one of the largest Delarian banks in Helmson. Finix owns an orchard. And Axtara … His sister had gone west, out to the outskirts of the kingdoms to found a bank of her own.

And I am going to become a wizard. A faint, thrilling tingle rushed through him, from the base of his horns all the way down to the tip of his tail. His insides fluttered in response, as if he were about to fly through a large storm.

Stop that, he chided himself. You’re a grown drake, and you’ve studied magic probably twice as long as most of the other apprentices coming to earn their titles this week. You’ll be fine.

But the nervousness didn’t leave. It persisted, like a distant storm hanging on the horizon, a specter no matter where he looked.

Relax. The road meandered on, down another winding slope. You’ve got this. You know the rules, you know the laws. Of which, he’d discovered with his second apprenticeship, there were fewer than most thought. In fact, the only solid law that seemed to be completely unalterable was that magic could not be created from nothing. No matter the spell, large or small, energy needed to be expended, either from the world around it, a source, or the caster.

But other rules were more often like imprecise guidelines, restrictions only put in place by the way one approached the magic. Evi Natabask’s History of the Arcane was well respected, but had made a number of sweeping declarations about magic being either possible or impossible that were entirely the result of the numeric approach she’d used in shaping her spells. Her writings had even gone so far as to accuse other wizards of the time as charlatans over differing techniques.

Granted, the world had been different then. Less connected. Books had been written by quill rather than printed, making them even more of a prize than they currently were.

Things had changed. The world had grown smaller. Knowledge was at the forefront of the rising changes.

And I will soar above that forefront, he thought as the walls of Avnivaria neared. All I need is the title.

Once he had that, doors would open. Patronage. Royal grants. He could go further with his studies than he ever could have on his own. I could take a court position, or study the ancient ruins, perhaps find if they’re truly connected to the fell. Or—

There were so many possibilities, all just out of reach for a magic practitioner with no title or official recognition.

I’ll get it, he thought as he passed through the open gate, stepping into the city outskirts and taking it in. Avnivaria was built on the same hills he’d been flying over for hours, and its white-and-blue coloration made it appear as if the entire city was a series of rolling, cresting waves. Here and there other spots of color stood out, but much of it was white stone, with the royal family’s blue serving only as a complement.

The end result, from the white gleaming domes to the crystal blue canals that cut through the lower areas, was truly spectacular. I guess I could have flown closer, he thought as he made his way through the busy streets. Seen this from the air.

Another time, perhaps. For now, he needed to find the council and present himself to whoever was taking names for the trials. Then an inn, someplace to rest and clean his scales of the dust he’d acquired during his travel.

The city bustled around him, and he kept his wings folded tightly against his back to avoid bumping anyone. Everyone seemed to have a place to be, some rushing to and fro, others hawking wares from carts or stalls or even just performing in small squares or by fountains, strumming at stringed instruments and singing in old languages to small crowds. Some vendors were selling foods and spices, thin-pounded breads fried and filled with something that made his stomach growl. But he pushed on.

Thankfully, even before he’d made it to the main roads he found magically-illuminated signs pointing him in the direction of the council. A variation on Parniacles’ light spell, I believe, he thought, examining the glow of their magic. And not too surprising, I suppose. The trials are held only once a year, so it must be something of an occurrence for the city. Block by block he followed their trail, and before long a plaza rose before him that could only be his destination.

His first impression was its sheen, the white-and-blue marble so bright and clean that magic had to be the source. High, graceful arches climbed into the sky above elaborate stained glass windows, backing grounds filled with fountains and carefully shaped topiary. Some of the fountains were quite openly defying gravity, streams of water running up rather than down. One even wound around in a spiral, circling back in on itself before falling to the pool below.

Someone behind him shouted something, and he started as he realized he’d been blocking traffic. A quick apology seemed to satisfy the man, and he moved forward once more, walking up to the front gate and noting that while it looked to be hanging above the crowd at an impossible angle, there was no magic involved at all, just clever engineering.

It was, however, wide open, and he walked onto the grounds, again pushing down a faint flutter of nervous energy.

Relax. He could see several people tending to the grounds, and for a brief moment he wondered if they were wizards or just attendants hired to care for things. But if they’re the latter, who pays for them?

He moved past the fountains, somewhat tempted to stick out a wing and give his scales a slight wash. Dust from traveling had left them with a slightly reddish coloration, which didn’t at all mesh with his natural darker blue. But … I don’t think I’ll be appearing before the council today. If I am to do so, I’m certain they’d allow me time to clean from my travels.

The pathway guided him to a set of stone steps beneath a wide, grand doorway that had been left open. Words had been carved above the doorframe, and he paused for a moment to read them.

The Rietillian Council of Wizards. I’m finally here! He made his way up the steps, placing each paw with care, as they were sized for bipeds rather than a quadruped of his size.

A large, well-lit entryway stood before him, clean and crisp. He could see only four exits counting his own, but the ornate nature of the door at the back meant it was likely the entrance to the council chambers. Off to his left a bored-looking, white-haired human woman sat behind a desk, and he didn’t need the sign that said “Apprentices Here” to know that she was who he needed to speak with. He stepped forward, stopping just shy of the desk and waiting for her acknowledgement.

“Delivering or picking up?” she asked, looking up, and for a moment the question made him pause.

“I’m sorry?”

“Delivery or picking up?” she asked again, nodding in the direction of the satchel on his chest.

“Oh,” he said quickly. An honest mistake. “Neither, actually. I’m here for the trials. Ryax the Dedicated.”

The woman’s eyes widened slightly, the look of boredom leaving her face. “You?”

“Yes. Why? Is there an issue?”

She recovered quickly, he had to give her that. “No, no,” she said, shaking her head and reaching for the scrolls on her desk. “My apologies, it’s been a long day, and for a moment I thought you were someone else.”

“Well,” he said, giving her a faint smile. “I do look a bit like my father, and he serves as a royal courier on occasion.”

“Yes!” The aide seemed all too eager for the open sky he’d offered. “That must be it. I merely assumed—My apologies. No offense meant.” She uncorked a bottle of ink, dipping a quill in it with one hand while spreading a scroll covered in names and columns with the other.

“None taken.”

“Right.” She looked up at him once more. “So you’re here for … the trials?”

“Yes.” Again his response seemed to catch her slightly by surprise, but … The first dragon. “Have you seen many other apprentices yet?”

“A few.” She glanced down at her list. “Most arrive to put their name on the list after the trials start, so how early would you like to meet with the council?”

“How early?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m doing this out of order. I’m all out of sorts today. Before we set a time and day for your trial, we need to confirm that you’ve been recommended. Do you have your letter of recommendation?”

“Which one?” he asked, noting with suppressed glee the way her brow sharply rose at his statement. “I have five.”

“You have five letters of recommendation?”

“Of course.” He smiled, leaning back slightly so that he could open his satchel. “Frederico Adernat, Uxul Azul, Ava Hendle, Sel Utari, and Elvoto of Elmsbridge,” he said, naming each as he pulled their letters out. Each was sealed, both with wax bearing their symbol and a spell that would identify the writer when broken. Since the spell was attached to the paper, one couldn’t easily modify the contents without disrupting it.

“I … Could you please give me a moment?” The woman opened a large ledger atop her desk, revealing row after row of names. “The first one was Frederico Adernat?” He nodded, and she flipped through the pages, settling on one about halfway through and running her finger down a list of names.

“Found him,” she said, her finger coming to a halt. “All right, and now … One moment … Split the lot, this is going to be tricky.”

“Can I help?”

“Well, normally when an apprentice arrives, they give the name of the wizard they trained under, I verify that name in the ledger, then write that name next to the appointment as well as note it in the ledger for our own records. But in your case, with five names …” She took a deep breath and shook her head, white hairs splaying in sharp contrast across the tanned tones of her face. “Perhaps we should pick a time for your trial, and then we can see about sorting each of your teachers? How soon would you like your trial to begin?”

“Is there anything available tomorrow?”

“Well, most apprentices prefer to be near the end of the trials,” she said quickly. “To give them extra time to prepare. Those who meet earlier typically cannot afford to stay in the city long, or don’t wish to endure the anticipation. So there are several scheduled for tomorrow, but also openings you could accept. That would give you an evening to clean up from your travels.”

He gave his wings a slight shake. “It is noticeable, isn’t it? But yes, that will be fine. What do you have?”

“There’s an opening right at midday,” she said.

“That would do perfectly.”

“Very well. Spell your name, please?” He did so, and she carefully copied it down, writing Frederico’s name next to it. She then copied his name into the ledger, flipped to another page, and wrote it down again.

Finally, once each of the names had been recorded in both places, she gave him a smile and closed the ledger. “So a dragon who wants to become a wizard? If you don’t mind indulging my curiosity, how did that come about?”

“Oh, likely the same—” He caught himself. “Well no, not the same. I doubt many would-be wizards started studying magic by experimenting with their own fire. But I would imagine the result was similar. I became curious how I could perform tricks with it, and progressed from there.”

“And that led you to study under five different wizards?”

“I enjoyed learning the different techniques and approaches. There’s always something new to explore.” He motioned to the letters. “Do I keep those?”

“Yes, you do,” she said, passing them. “Is magic really that different?”

“Oh yes!” he said quickly. “And how you approach a spell may make some things work one way, but not another. I apologize for not asking, but are you a wizard?”

She let out a laugh. “No, not yet. Maybe someday. I’m councilmember Hyal’s apprentice. Shanlee. Shanlee Oau.”

“Ryax. It’s a pleasure to meet you. If I might ask, what is it like to be apprenticed to one of the council wizards?”

A look flashed over her face, so quick that he almost missed it, one he couldn’t quite read but was almost … constrained? “It’s fine,” she said. “It’s not entirely what I expected, but he’s a very busy man.”

Ah. Perhaps it would have been better not to say anything. Especially after she just learned that I apprenticed under five. “Well, I hope you learn much,” he said, hoping it would smooth the rough winds he had just stirred. “I shall return shortly before midday tomorrow. If I could take a little more of your time, do you know of any lodgings nearby worth recommending? With a bath? And meals?”

Shanlee’s face brightened. “Well, you could always swim in the canal. It’s allowed, so long as you don’t pollute it. But there’s a nice inn several hills south of here and across the river that should have proper accommodations.”

A minute later he bid Shanlee farewell and left the council chambers, following her directions. He found the inn she’d recommended without much difficulty, a large establishment at the bottom of a hill, and secured a sizable room as well as a hot bath and meal. Belly full and scales cleaned, he retired to his room, leaving a notice with the innkeeper that he wished to be awakened before the second bell the next morning.

The rest of the night passed in careful study, a final summary review of everything he could perceive the council questioning him on. Five letters was exemplary, but the council tested candidates regardless, and he would need to provide evidence that his approval was well placed. The midnight bell had just rung when he finally extinguished the light spell he’d been reading by and curled up atop a large pad, ready to sleep.

Tomorrow would be the final test. The trial. Sleep came, but not easily.

---

I hope you enjoyed Part One of A Trial For a Dragon! If this is the first you’ve been exposed to the world of Axtara, then be sure to check out the best-selling Axtara – Banking and Finance! She’s available at your local bookseller, online, or perhaps even at your local library! And be sure to check out Axtara’s newest adventure when it launches this spring!